Description
About the role
As a Programme Director you will play a crucial role in driving large-scale business transformations that align with our mission. You will lead large-scale, complex programmes across various domains, including technology, business process and customer platforms. You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships, collaborating effectively with a wide range of senior stakeholders and overseeing the development and management of high-performing teams, guiding them through periods of change.
You will play a central role in facilitating and brokering effective and inclusive partnerships throughout the programme.
As Programme Director you will be responsible for the programme; ensuring that the programme is architected and structured appropriately to ensure that the targeted business benefits associated with the Programme are realised.
You would directly report to the Head of Change Delivery, with dotted line to the Programme Executive Sponsor and Steering Group. You will act as a member of the Change Delivery Leadership Team and may have responsibility for developing communities of practice / profession leadership and line management as required to support the division.
Key Responsibilities:
* Own the planning and execution of programme workstreams, developing high-level plans and refining them with stakeholders to deliver early business value.
* Build strong ownership of senior stakeholders across the Bank by identifying all key relationships and ensuring each stakeholder clearly understands their role in the programme's success.
* Work with Senior Responsible Owners / Business Owners to develop Business Cases for investment programmes in order to realise the outcomes and benefits outlined in the Bank Strategy in an optimised and efficient way.
* Own the benefits framework for the programme once agreed by the Programme and Steering Group / Board.
* Provide strategic direction and monitor delivery, aligned with overall vision and objectives. Proactively convey and connect the wider business strategy to the programme team and promoting the associated initiatives.
* Liaise with functional business owners to ensure high-level design alignment and resource allocation.
* Establish governance structures ensuring that programme documentation, including process and procedures, plans, reports, registers, and lessons learned are developed, signed off and actioned upon. Establish consolidated formal reporting arrangements on programme progress.
* Implement appropriate programme delivery approaches, including people, organisation, process, information and technology.
* Engage and manage vendors and third parties, negotiating clear statements of work and ensuring delivery against plans.
* Provide leadership within the programme and develop others to reach their full potential, providing task or people management as required. Create a high-performing and inclusive team environment that encourages contribution and recognition. Act as a figurehead for the Programme with external stakeholders.
* Encourage problem solving, team working, risk sharing and continuous improvement with Business areas and Delivery teams.
* Hold accountability for the financial forecasting and programme budget management, ensuring that corrective actions are taken where required.
* Manage the risk profile and contingency across the Programme.
* Act as an initial escalation for issue resolution. Make decisions about relative priorities for the programme where this cannot be resolved by other methods.
Minimum Criteria
* Experience leading large, complex, multi‑year programmes in a matrixed environment.
* Strong ability to manage and influence senior stakeholders, including at executive level.
* Experience delivering organisational change using a range of delivery methodologies.
* Ability to think and operate strategically in environments of uncertainty and complexity.
* Demonstrable leadership capability, including developing and motivating multidisciplinary teams.
Essential Criteria
* Established track record of shaping and leading complex, high value, multi year programmes.
* Industry leading expert in the delivery of projects and programmes with experience working alongside executives to create the case for change at all levels of the organisation.
* Ability to take a strategic perspective and to plan strategically in an environment of uncertainty, complexity and with multiple dependencies and stakeholders.
* An established understanding and experience in a range of project and programme delivery standards and methodologies.
* Strong analytical, problem solving, collaboration and technical skills.
* Significant experience leading and managing teams in ambiguity in highly matrixed environment.
* Evidence of extensive experience in managing senior stakeholders and managing a complex stakeholder landscape.
* Ability to collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries, build relationships, and import and export talent and ideas to achieve a broader organizational goal.
* Experience in development of operating model design and technology solutions in meeting sustainable targets
* Ability to drive organisational results in a complex and matrixed business environment
Desirable Criteria
* Experience in equivalent Programme Director roles.
* Significant subject matter experience in transformation, technology and finance
* Project, Programme and Portfolio Management qualifications
* Experience of working in a product and value stream operating model
* Proven track record in delivering the various types of project that sit within a typical Programme (eg Research, compliance, IT infrastructure, business redesign, regulatory etc)
* Experience in checking the health of projects and programmes at multiple points of their lifecycle, preparing a clear view on whether or not they will deliver agreed outcomes.
Don't hesitate to apply even if you don't meet every single criterion. We value diverse perspectives and believe that different backgrounds contribute to our team's success.
Our Approach to Inclusion
The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.
At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.
We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.
For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.
Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.
Salary and Benefits Information
We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.
In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:
* Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
* A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
* An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
* 26 days' annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
* Private medical insurance and income protection.
National Security Vetting Process
Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.
The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.
The Application Process
Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It's therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.
The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.
This role closes on 5th March 2026
Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.